SmartArt is a great solution for converting text to visual elements. For a recent project I modified a simple timeline SmartArt (Closed Chevron Process) with customized drop shadows to add some visual interest to the slide.
![](https://thepowerpointblog.com/media/blogs/all/10_Jan/SmartArt_1.jpg)
All was accomplished by adjusting the shadow distance for each of the 3 elements.
![](https://thepowerpointblog.com/media/blogs/all/10_Jan/SmartArt_2.jpg)
Download the slide here.
– Troy @ TLC